Just needed to gush a little...

[floaty83]

Man, I know there have been threads like this before, but I just think this is so freakin' cool. The handle on my 5:50 1x12 combo started falling apart recently with the rubber sleeve breaking into pieces, etc. Called MB, talked to Marcus, within 5 minutes, had a replacement handle on its way to me under warranty.

I freakin' love my 5:50. I recently put on a Foo Fighters tribute show at a local club here in town. We had three guitar players, one with a Mesa Subway Rocket 1x10, me with my Mesa Express 5:50 1x12 combo, and the 3rd guitar with an Egnater Renegade 2x12 combo. Man, did it sound awesome. Great blend of tones. EL84s in the Subway Rocket, 6L6s in my Express, and EL34s running in the Renegade.

This post is me being bored at work by the way...

 

[Selsaral]

Kickass. I've had my 5:50 1X12 for about 5 months now and I am still buzzing. Lotsa fun. Playing my first gig with it this saturday, can't wait.

My footswitch had some probs, but it's OK right now. Worried about the handle thing, I've heard other stories, but mine is holding up. Still, the 5-year warranty is good stuff.

I was toying with a Mark V combo the other day and it was kickass. Though I'd really just rather have an Express with all 4 modes as footswitchable channels.

With my last amp I was constantly on the edge of getting an extension cab, maybe even a 2X12 for it. With this Express, it's not the slightest concern. The cab is just glorious and huge sounding.

 

[THE TUBENATOR]

I too have read other posts where members voice concerns regarding the handle of the Express amps not holding up to the vigors of regular use for gigs. I have the 5:50 Head so I don't think I will ever run into that problem. I also don't gig so I don't transport my amp often.

I agree that Express amps are an awesome little amp for the cost. I've had mine for three years now and I can say that over the years I've owned amps that I never completely fell in love with the way I love my 5:50 & cab. I don't forsee myself ever getting rid of this setup even if down the road I purchase another amp big amp.

 

[Don]

Three years of use and the handle on my 5:50 1X12 combo is holding up really well (fingers crossed) and this amp has been moved around a lot (up and down flights of stairs regularly).

The handle on my friend's DSL401 is shot! The covering is mostly packaging tape and duct tape at this point!

 

[Pappy]

Yeah. The handle on my 5:25 disintegrated last fall and they sent me a new one under warranty, too. No problem.
I'm gigging mine tonight at a local club. Used it before there and it was great.
For gigs, I keep mine in 25 watt mode, clean, with a pedal board up front for dirt and other effects.

 

[kahawe]

One thing I am wondering about the 5:50 1x12 combo - when using the example presets, Master is usually around 12 so it is LOUD and with that small combo cab and one speaker, it screams like all hell broke loose and I always feels like that thing is gonna jump up and explode from that much LOUD... hooked up the combo to a 4x12 and it sounded much more natural, relaxed and "in control".

Do you guys experience that as well and how high up do you run your Master on 50W?

 

[art_n_music]

One thing I am wondering about the 5:50 1x12 combo - when using the example presets, Master is usually around 12 so it is LOUD and with that small combo cab and one speaker, it screams like all hell broke loose and I always feels like that thing is gonna jump up and explode from that much LOUD... hooked up the combo to a 4x12 and it sounded much more natural, relaxed and "in control".

Do you guys experience that as well and how high up do you run your Master on 50W?

Well, I am waiting for my 5:50 head to arrive tomorrow!!! So, I don't have first hand experience with it yet. But I have had a Dual Rec Tremoverb head for several years. I guess the point is, I am used to loud! But you should roll back your guitar's volume till you reach a volume level you like. You'll find a whole 'nother set of tones in there. My TOV has four channels as well, and using rolled back guitar volumes will add new sounds to each channel.

 

[Don]

It depends on where the gains are set but I've never had the masters above 10:00 or so. I can't use that kind of volume in the places that I play.